Ho-Ho-Kus Public School Outdoor Education Program
Melody Newcombe, upon the invitation of then Superintendent Jack Woodbury of the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School System in New Jersey, was asked to develop, promote, staff and manage a new resident outdoor education program for their 4th, 5th and 6th grade students.
Before Newcombe was hired, Superintendent Woodbury faced 100% opposition to the concept of a resident outdoor education project by the teachers and parents of the students he proposed to serve through development and reality of the program. Even many of the students were apposed to the idea.
Melody had to not only create and develop all concepts for the initiative, but had to bring a 180 degree change to the thinking of the teachers, parents and many students. Newcombe successfully swung the packed house of opposition to supporters and the project went forward to serve all successfully.
Each grade level of students spent one week at a resident outdoor education facility Camp Bernie in Sparta, NJ. Students lived in cabins and shared meals in the common dining room with their teachers. Melody's staff taught environmental sciences, ropes course, new games, outdoor education, survival, trust and team building, and nature crafts and arts.
Days began with early morning bird walks, hikes to the Beaver Pond to learn about aquatic life and Dow Farm where students learned first hand about farming and raising livestock. There were environmental and science studies all through the day and into the evening with owl walks and astronomy. Students cleaned and carded wool collected from sheep and spun it into yarn from drop spindles. The yarn was dyed with natural dyes made from plants students identified and collected. They made candles and many other nature crafts, did art projects, sang songs about the environment around the evening campfires, did research and first hand studies of plants and animals and their interdependencies. Students and teachers bonded like they had never done before and became more eager to learn and grow together as good stewarts of the land.
Before Newcombe was hired, Superintendent Woodbury faced 100% opposition to the concept of a resident outdoor education project by the teachers and parents of the students he proposed to serve through development and reality of the program. Even many of the students were apposed to the idea.
Melody had to not only create and develop all concepts for the initiative, but had to bring a 180 degree change to the thinking of the teachers, parents and many students. Newcombe successfully swung the packed house of opposition to supporters and the project went forward to serve all successfully.
Each grade level of students spent one week at a resident outdoor education facility Camp Bernie in Sparta, NJ. Students lived in cabins and shared meals in the common dining room with their teachers. Melody's staff taught environmental sciences, ropes course, new games, outdoor education, survival, trust and team building, and nature crafts and arts.
Days began with early morning bird walks, hikes to the Beaver Pond to learn about aquatic life and Dow Farm where students learned first hand about farming and raising livestock. There were environmental and science studies all through the day and into the evening with owl walks and astronomy. Students cleaned and carded wool collected from sheep and spun it into yarn from drop spindles. The yarn was dyed with natural dyes made from plants students identified and collected. They made candles and many other nature crafts, did art projects, sang songs about the environment around the evening campfires, did research and first hand studies of plants and animals and their interdependencies. Students and teachers bonded like they had never done before and became more eager to learn and grow together as good stewarts of the land.
